The Power of Puzzles While Staying at Home

COVID-19 has altered many aspects of life for Yale F&ES students—attending virtual classes, wearing masks to the supermarket, staying six feet from others on the street—but it has especially transformed the nature of social connections.

F&ES is a uniquely close-knit community, so the global pandemic has significantly shifted how students engage. Forestry Club, which organizes community-wide social events, brainstormed ways to bring joy to students in lieu of Tacky Prom and the End of the Year Party, which had to be cancelled.

Figuring that others like me might turn to puzzles as a form of relaxation while indoors, I decided to create puzzles for the student body. It began with an F&ES-inspired crossword puzzle with references to campus locations, research centers, student groups, and more.

As we approach finals, I hope these puzzles serve as entertaining breaks and stimulating activities for students. Xueyin Tong (MEM-5 Candidate, Class of 2020) reflects, “Super nerdy, very fun. Great way to feel like an F&ES student while being stuck at home.”